Colorado Springs, Colorado, was the center of American evangelicalism in the second half of the 20th century. Ministries relocated to a place whose government and chamber of commerce welcomed them. Megachurches built huge worship centers.
Historian tells how Colorado Springs became ‘evangelical Vatican’
Colorado Springs is home to dozens of major international evangelical parachurch organizations, many of them arriving here between 1980 and 1995. But the story really begins between 1945 and 1955, says a historian’s new book. William J. Schultz’s Jesus Springs: Evangelical…
One year after the Club Q mass shooting, none of us are the same
It’s been more than a year since a man armed with an AR-15-style rifle walked into a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs and opened fire. It was Nov. 19, 2022, the day before Transgender Day of Remembrance. Club Q was…
Yemi Mobolade is ‘mayor for all people,’ not only Christians in Colorado Springs
Yemi Mobolade, a Nigerian immigrant, entrepreneur and Christian community leader, made history in May, becoming the first Black man and first non-Republican to be elected mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second largest city, in more than four decades. A political…
Focus on the Family affiliate is the unifying force behind campaign to restrict transgender rights
Culture war fights over transgender identity may have snuck up on many Americans, but the leaders of the Family Policy Alliance, a little known but influential group founded decades ago by James Dobson, have been preparing their trans battle plan…
Colorado Springs elects a Nigerian immigrant — and political Independent — as mayor
Yemi Mobolade, a Nigerian immigrant, entrepreneur, Christian community leader and “agent of good disruption” made history Tuesday, becoming the first Black man and first non-Republican to be elected mayor of Colorado Springs, Colo., in more than four decades. The smart…
Colorado Springs clergy speak out against religious hate speech that leads to violence
In a city mainly known as home to highly influential evangelical ministries that preach against the LGBTQ community, more than 50 clergy have co-signed a letter calling for an end to religious hate speech. The letter from Colorado Springs, Colo.,…
One of evangelicals’ most notorious anti-LGBTQ leaders sent chaplains to ‘comfort’ the traumatized after mass murder in gay nightclub
Franklin Graham is one of the best-known evangelical crusaders against the LGBTQ community, so Colorado Springs residents might have been surprised to see him send chaplains to offer “emotional and spiritual support” there after a gunman murdered five people in…
It’s a short distance from your Thanksgiving table jokes to queer people being shot dead
Are you alive? My phone began blowing up with texts, emails and messages early Sunday morning. Are you safe? This is not the first time I’ve experienced this. Are your people safe? My body remembers; we’ve been here before. Sunday…